“I really appreciate the people who saved me.” That was the message yesterday from guest worker Rama Gupta, who was rescued from drowning at Horseshoe Bay on Monday evening. Mr Gupta remained in the Intensive Care Unit, but was in good spirits when he spoke to The Royal Gazette.Recalling his near-death experience, the 36-year-old from Mumbai City, India, explained he was with two friends. “We went swimming and everybody was enjoying the waves,” he said. “Me and my friend were on a level with each other, but one wave pulled me so way back that I didn’t realise it had pushed me so far, because I’m not a good swimmer.”When Mr Gupta looked up, he realised he had been dragged 20 feet away and called out to his friends. “He thought that I was joking because everybody was in a funny mood,” the Pembroke resident explained. “Another guy said ‘your friend is calling you’. Then he saw me. After that, I was almost under water and I don’t know what happened after that.”He added: “My friend told me when he didn’t see my face in the water he yelled for the people to help. I have swum there many times before but on Monday the current was very high. The last wave which pulled me in I don’t know what happened or how I came to be so far away from my friends. At that moment, I thought it would be the last day of my life.”The Royal Gazette reported earlier this week how businessman Jay O’Connor, together with several members of a beach volleyball team, rescued Mr Gupta.He was found at the bottom of the sea by volleyball player Adam Birch, from Paget. Several people then jumped into the water to help bring him ashore.Mr Gupta was not breathing when he was rescued and another player, Ariel Mierzejewski, who works at the hospital, helped give CPR.The rescuers described how Mr Gupta eventually coughed up seawater and started breathing again. He was then put on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance.“What I do remember is when the people put me on a stretcher,” said Mr Gupta. “I really appreciate those people who came to help save my life without fearing risking their own lives. I would really like to thank all of them who were part of it.”Mr Gupta travelled all over the world before moving to Bermuda 11 months ago, working in Saudi Arabia, St Maarten and the British Virgin Islands. He is currently assistant restaurant manager at Indigo, in Flatts.A spokesman for Indigo revealed on Tuesday that a party will be held to thank the rescuers as soon as Mr Gupta is well again.Due to be moved out of Intensive Care to a general ward yesterday, Mr Gupta also expressed his gratitude to the staff at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.“I’m way better than I was that night. The people are very nice in the hospital and they are taking good care of me,” he said.